Lae is a city in the Huon Gulf region of Papua New Guinea. Lae is PNG's second city, after the capital Port Moresby and its main economic hub as most of the production from the country's Highlands area is exported through the city, transported along the Highlands Highway.
With no road connections between Port Moresby and much of the rest of the mainland, Lae's port is also the main way by which food from the Highlands (potatoes, sweet potatoes, cabbages, etc.) reaches the capital. Coastal shipping from Lae also offers a cheaper transport option for those who cannot afford to fly to Port Moresby. Known as the "gateway to the Highlands", this does Lae a disservice as it has much to offer in its own right. In the 1920s, Lae was the busiest airport in the world - it was there that aviators in the gold mining industry first proved that it was commercially feasible to ship cargo (and not just people) by air.
Take care when driving around Lae. Although the roads are improving, there are many pot holes. It is advisable to leave a good space between yourself and the car in front of you so you can make a quick getaway if need be.
1 Lae Botanic Gardens. Right in the heart of Lae city the gardens give a good appreciation of some of PNG's vegetation and attract a wide range of birds. (updated Nov 2021) Lae War Cemetery. Contains 2,818 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 444 of them unidentified. Morobe Show. This is held on the "weekend closest to the full moon in October". It is both an agricultural and industrial show as well as a cultural event that attracts many tourists, with emphasis on the culture of Morobe province. [2] The Rainforest Habitat.
Game fishing, Lae Yacht Club, P.O. Box 1002, laegamefishing@laegamefishing.org.pg. Marlin, Wahoo, Sailfish, Yellowfin and Spanish Mackerel are commonly caught. The Yacht Club can arrange boat charters.
1 Lae Garden Restaurant, ☏ +675 479 0100. 11AM–2PM, 5:30–9:30PM. A mix of Australian, Chinese and local cuisines. (updated Nov 2021) 2 The City Cafe, 3rd Street Lae City Hotel, ☏ +675 472 0138. 6AM-9:30PM. Prices generally range from A$10 to $A30. (updated Nov 2021)
Don't wander the streets of Lae alone, even in crowded shopping areas (crime). But for little or no money, a hotel guard may accompany a lone traveler for a short walk to go shopping or to the bank.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Aug, Lae typically sees ~28°C daytime highs and 28 rainy days.
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